Eur. Phys. J. D 48, 111-119 (2008)
https://doi.org/10.1140/epjd/e2008-00068-4

Characterization of a magnetic trap by polarization dependent Zeeman spectroscopy

The Niels Bohr Institute, Universitetsparken 5, 2100 Copenhagen, Denmark

Corresponding author: ^a jwt@fys.ku.dk

Received: 18 July 2007
Revised: 18 January 2008
Published online: 18 April 2008

Abstract

This paper demonstrates a detailed experimental study of our cloverleaf magnetic trap for sodium atoms. By using polarization dependent Zeeman spectroscopy of our atomic beam, passing the magnetic trap region, we have determined important trap parameters such as gradients, their curvatures and corresponding trap frequencies. Experimental findings are compared to theoretical calculations as well as complementary methods of characterizing the trap.